Multiclass has an average spellcast timer of the two classes but gets rounded up. For assassin/clerics, it's 4sec + 5sec divided by 2 = 4.5 secs. But we end up with 5 secs. Is it possible now to code in 4.5 secs instead of 5 secs?

How about also expanding the aura limitations to lighblue and pink instead of just grey for Ares?

I personally see the spell timer thing as a trade-off to playing a C/A. Especially when you're getting more attack power than a pure Ares cleric (DEX = more AP for dodgers).

As for the aura thing, I think it's a reasonable move. Gradius clerics get vile races to remedy their grey aura dilemma, but Ares clerics don't have this benefit. While it's not TOO big of a roadblock, I do find myself having to pick my grinding mobs very carefully. Edit: healing doesn't get hindered until you turn blue/red-ish, so that's fine ... but berserk is not useable unless you are grey. Ulp's berserk skill is only at 55 and I think I use it pretty much every chance I get if I'm still grey ...

** Dom, I know I asked you about this before ... but it turns out that Ares not only gets +3 STR instead of +5 STR, but they also only get x1.25 weapon damage instead of x1.5 (found under combatSystem.cpp). Is there any chance of raising this? They are still penalized by the normal standards

One might as well choose to play a paladin or a deathknight which has a better damage bonus at higher levels that are constant, not on a 7 minute timer, and prevent them from fleeing. Plus, they heal better. Is bash really worth all these trade-offs?

Usagi wrote:

** Dom, I know I asked you about this before ... but it turns out that Ares not only gets +3 STR instead of +5 STR, but they also only get x1.25 weapon damage instead of x1.5 (found under combatSystem.cpp). Is there any chance of raising this? They are still penalized by the normal standards One might as well choose to play a paladin or a deathknight which has a better damage bonus at higher levels that are constant, not on a 7 minute timer, and prevent them from fleeing. Plus, they heal better. Is bash really worth all these trade-offs?

Is there any chance of raising strength of pray for Death Knights as well? They only get +3 to strength when they pray...

Death Knights don't get a heck of a lot of damage bonus at higher levels. Axl is 24 and he only does an additional 8 or so on average.

Bane did decimal attack delays, but spell delays are still integer-based. It is indeed possible to change, but it's not high on my priority list.

The alignment adjustment seems reasonable. The only other place the code checks Ares for alignment is during berserk, which I can change.

A 1.5 bonus for Ares seems fine to me.

I don't plan on raising strength bonuses for pray for Ares or Deathknights. I'm working on the foundation of the new magic system, and once everything is in we can work on balancing the classes. Keep in mind that Ares and Deathknights will be able to cast spells, while fighters will not.

Thank you for considering this, Dom! I do agree that the strength deal shouldn't be changed. The new magic system sounds exciting!

Huk: If you leveled Axl, it looks like you'd have some pretty hax bonus damage by the end, since it scales with level vs. berserk, which is based on weapons.